Boxer Amir lands stinging blow on Trump's racism

WASHINGTON - Britain's Amir Khan has taken a verbal jab at Donald Trump’s policies ahead of his world title clash with Mexico's Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, saying under the Republican presidential hopeful, it could be the last time the boxers could fight in the United States.

If elected, Trump, the billionaire businessman, has promised to build a wall along the Mexican-American border, and last year called for a ‘total and complete’ ban on Muslims entering the US, to protect against terrorist threats. Trump, who was invited to be in attendance on Saturday for the WBC middleweight clash, has declined to come.

At a press conference ahead of the bout, Khan, a Muslim of Pakistani ancestry, was quoted as saying: “You never know - this could be the last fight here for me and Canelo, if Donald Trump becomes president!”

Khan is jumping two weight divisions for a first world title fight since he was stopped by Danny Garcia almost four years ago, but told journalists, they would ‘see the best Amir Khan’ on Saturday. “Canelo’s a tough guy, but we’re going to be ready. He’s a credit to boxing, but it’s my time and I’m going to grab it with both hands,” he was further quoted as saying.

Trump has made his party’s establishment uneasy with his abrasive tone and policy positions, including his promise to build a wall on the US-Mexican border, deport 11 million illegal immigrants and temporarily Muslims from entering the country. On a more serious pugilistic note, Khan pledged to show his fans ‘the best of Amir Khan’ in the ring against Alvarez.